Spring is in the air!

Spring has finally sprung… and hopefully the warm weather is coming too as we didn’t get much of a spring last year. With that in mind, most of the fun things on in London this month are indoors.

• 1 – 2 March : Barbican Weekender

An array of events combining art and neuroscience, including dance, music and theatre for all ages. Free. Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS. Nearest tube: Barbican. For more information, visit the Barbican website.

• 2 March : Maslenitsa Russian Festival

Russian folk festival to celebrate the end of winter and coming of Spring in Trafalgar Square . Family friendly event with children’s theatre performances, music, food and a Russian bazaar. Free. Nearest tube: Charing Cross, Leicester Square or Embankment. For more information, visit the Maslenitsa website.

• 1 – 15 March : Flamenco Festival

Sadler’s Wells’ annual season of flamenco music and dance returns for the 11th year, featuring performances from Sara Baras, Miguel Poveda, Farruquito and Belen Maya. Sadler’s Well Theatre, Roseberry Avenue, EC1R 4TN. Nearest tube: Angel. For more information, visit the Sadler’s Wells website.

• 3 March – 18 April : London Handel Festival

Six weeks of concerts, talks and walks in venues, including Frederick Handel’s own parish church in Mayfair. Includes performances by tenor Rupert Charlesworth and harpsichordist Laurence Cummings at the Foundling Museum. St George’s Church, St George Street, Hanover Square, W1S 1FX. Nearest tube: Oxford Circus. For more information, visit the London Handel Festival website.

• 5 – 9 March : WOW: Women Of The World Festival

A festival of talks, debates, music, film and comedy celebrating women. Ronnie Spector, Vivienne Westwood, Sandi Toksvig and Maxine Peake among the featured names. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. Nearest tube: Waterloo. For more information and booking, visit the Southbank Centre website.

• 5 – 9 March : Cinema Made In Italy

Film festival of the newest features from Italy at the Ciné Lumière, including Roberto Andò’s Viva La Libertà, Matteo Oleotto’s Zoran, My Nephew The Idiot and Giovanni Veronesi’s The Fifth Wheel. Tickets: £8-10 plus booking fee. Ciné Lumière, 17 Queensbury Place, SW7 2DT. Nearest tube: South Kensington. For more information, visit the Ciné Lumière website.

The Women Of The World Festival returns to the Southbank Centre in March

• 7 – 9 March : Move It

Dance festival featuring performances, classes, retail, and talks by experts, including Darcey Bussell, Livio Salvi, Glenn Ball, Sisco Gomez and The Waacktitioners. Tickets start from £14.50 (advance), £17.50 on the door. Kensington Olympia, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX. Nearest tube/overland: Kensington Olympia. For more information, visit the Move It website.

• Now until 9 March : Orchid Festival

An orchid display is coming to the Princess of Wales Conservatory for four weeks. The sea of colour from one of the world’s most stunning flowers will certainly brighten up a dull winter’s day. General entrance tickets to Kew Gardens includes orchid exhibition: £16 adults or £14 concessions. Brentford Gate, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB. Nearest tube: Kew Gardens. For more information, visit the Kew Gardens website.

• 12 – 14 March : London Drinker Beer & Cider Festival

CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) North London host a beer and cider festival. As well as over 150 beers, ciders and perries to choose from, there is also food and stalls selling merchandise. Tickets: £3.50 (£2.50 for CAMRA members). Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, WC1H 9AU. Nearest tube: King’s Cross St Pancras. For more information visit the CAMRA North London website.

• Now until 15 March : Portals To The Past – Archaeology exhibition

Crossrail are displaying their finds from their excavation for the project, including Roman London skulls, 9,000 year old flint and items from a suspected Black Death Plague burial ground. Free. Opening hours Tues, Thur: 11am-7pm, Wed 11am-5.30pm and Sat 10am-5pm. Closed Mon, Fri and Sun. Crossrail Visitor Information Centre (behind Centre Point), 6-18 St Giles High Street, WC2H 8LN. Nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road. For more information, visit Crossrail’s website.

The Affordable Art Fair returns to Battersea

• 13 – 16 March : Affordable Art Fair @ Battersea Park

For those among us who aren’t loaded, this event is a chance for people to buy a unique piece of art or photography for their homes at an affordable price. There is over 100 galleries, with pieces for sale ranging for £40 to £4,000. Admission costs £10-£12 in advance, more on the door. Prices vary depending on time of day and weekend or weekday. Nearest rail: Battersea Park or short bus ride from Sloane Square tube. For more information, visit the Affordable Art Fair website.

• 14 – 30 March : Ideal Home Show

A place of inspiration for homeowners including interiors, fittings and gardens. Includes plenty of opportunities to buy things both big and small for the house and food. Celebrity ambassadors in attendance include Gregg Wallace, Laurence Llewelyn Bowen, George Clarke, Melinda Messenger, Diarmuid Gavin and Suzi Perry. Tickets: Adults £12 (weekday) or £14 (weekend). Earl’s Court, Warwick Road, SW5 9TA. Nearest tube: Earl’s Court or West Brompton. For more information and tickets, visit the Ideal Home Show website.

• 16 March : St Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival
  

If you’re actually Irish or not, all are welcome to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. The parade starts at 12 noon in Piccadilly, before proceeding to Trafalgar Square for the festival. The Square will play host to the free St Patrick’s Day Festival from 12-6pm, which includes dance, music, comedy, films, and a farmers’ market. Nearest tube: Charing Cross, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square or Embankment. For more information, visit the Greater London Authority website.

• 20 – 30 March : London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

The British Film Institute hosts the 11 day festival of lesbian and gay film at BFI Southbank. Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1 8XT. Nearest tube: Waterloo. For more information and booking, visit the BFI website.

• 21 March onwards : Bond In Motion

An exhibition of James Bond vehicles. Tickets – Adults: £14.50, Children: £9.50. Booking in advance highly recommend. London Film Museum, 45 Wellington St, Covent Garden, WC2E 7BN. Nearest tube: Covent Garden or Temple. For more information, visit the London Film Museum website.

• 27 – 30 March : London Ear Festival

An international, contemporary music festival, celebrating music from Britain, Austrian, Germany, Italy, Austria and Norway. Tickets range from £5 for single events to £40 (full festival pass). Events take place at The Warehouse (13 Theed Street, SE1 8ST) and Cello Factory (33-34 Cornwall Road, SE1 8TJ). Nearest tube: Waterloo. For more information and booking, visit the London Ear Festival website.

• 29 March : Head Of The River Race

Four hundred crews from around the world take their boats to race 4.25 miles from Mortlake to Putney. The race starts at 2.15pm so grab a spot along the Thames to catch the action. Free. Nearest tubes or train station to spectator points: Mortlake, Barnes Bridge, Hammersmith or Putney Bridge. For more information, visit the Head Of The River Race website.

• Now until 29 March : Photo Noir exhibition

Photo exhibition of Comel Lucas’s work – the only photographer to be awarded a BAFTA for his services to the film industry. Entrance: Free. Open Monday – Saturday 9.30am-11pm, Sundays 12-6pm. Lyttelton Exhibition Space, National Theatre, Upper Ground, Southbank, SE1 9PX. Nearest tube: Waterloo. For more information, visit the National Theatre website.

• 29 – 30 March : Vogue Festival

The hugely-popular Vogue Festival returns to the Southbank Centre for its third year. Featuring talks from the likes of Manolo Blahnik, Anna Dell Russo, Karlie Kloss, Pixie Geldof, Christopher Kane, Andya Hindmarch and Alexa Chung, as well as a host of designers and fashion editors. Ticket prices vary. Booking in advance highly recommended. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. Nearest tube: Waterloo. For more information, visit the Vogue website.

• Now until 30 March : Richmond Performing Arts Festival

Six week festival featuring dance, music, singing and drama at various venues across Kew and Richmond. For more information, visit the Richmond Festival website.

Check out Van Gogh’s reunited sunflowers at the National Gallery

• 31 March – 6 April : Chorus Festival

Festival celebrating singing as a group, featuring concerts, warm-ups and workshops. Tickets range from free to £15. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. Nearest tube: Waterloo. For more information and booking, visit the Southbank Centre website.

• Now until 6 April : Sensing Spaces : Architecture Re-Imagined

Exhibition at the Royal Academy featuring creations from architects across the world imploring you to gain a new perspective on architecture. Tickets: £14-£15.50. Opening times: Saturday-Thursday 10am-6pm, Fridays 10am-10pm. Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD. Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus or Green Park. For more information, visit the Royal Academy website.

• Now until 27 April : The Sunflowers

Two of Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers paintings have been reunited – shown together for the first time in 65 years. The masterpieces will be displayed side-by-side so visitors can compare and contrast. Free, but expect to queue at busy times. Room 45, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN. Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square or Charing Cross. For more information, visit the National Gallery website.

• Now until 1 June : Bailey’s Stardust @ National Portrait Gallery

Exhibition of 250 portraits by the acclaimed photographer Sir David Bailey of celebrities, politicians, designers, artists and people he has encountered on his travels. Tickets: £14.50 adults, £12 concessions. Advanced booking is highly recommended. National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, WC2H 0HE. Nearest tube: Leicester Square or Charing Cross. For more information and booking, visit the NPG website.

• Now until 1 June : United Visual Artists: Momentum

New art installation coming to The Curve at the Barbican. Unique Visual Artists have created ‘a carefully choreographed sequence of light, sound and movement, which responds to the unique space of the Curve’, featuring 12 pendulums which activate light and sound. Free admission. Be prepared for possible queues at peak times. Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS. Nearest tube: Barbican or Moorgate. For more information, visit the Barbican website.

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